Following the successful debut of HIPTHER Baltics: Vilnius 2026, HIPTHER is proud to announce the transformation of its Vilnius event into the HIPTHER Fintech Summit –– a new annual pan-European gathering dedicated to fintech innovation, regulation, payments infrastructure, digital banking, compliance, and financial technology growth.

Hosted each year in Vilnius, the Summit is designed to unite fintech leaders, regulators, banking innovators, investors, infrastructure providers, and high-growth technology companies in one of Europe’s most dynamic and fast-rising fintech capitals.

The announcement follows a strong first edition of HIPTHER Baltics: Vilnius, where speakers and delegates explored Lithuania’s evolving regulatory landscape, open banking leadership, MiCA readiness, next-generation payments, blockchain infrastructure, AI in finance, and the future of cross-border digital services.

Why Vilnius, Why Now

Over the last decade, Lithuania has emerged as one of Europe’s most ambitious fintech ecosystems, attracting international payment institutions, EMI leaders, blockchain businesses, challenger banking operations, and compliance-focused innovators.

With a progressive regulatory environment, world-class talent, strong digital infrastructure, and strategic access to European markets, Vilnius has become a natural meeting point for the future of finance.

The new HIPTHER Fintech Summit aims to accelerate that momentum by creating a boutique, high-value annual platform where real decision-makers meet to exchange ideas, build partnerships, and shape the next era of European financial innovation.

What the HIPTHER Fintech Summit Will Cover

Attendees can expect deep-dive discussions across topics including:

• Open Banking & A2A Payments
• Cross-Border Financial Infrastructure
• EMI & Digital Banking Growth
• MiCA, AML & Regulatory Readiness
• Embedded Finance & B2B Payments
• AI in Financial Services
• Blockchain & Tokenisation
• Cybersecurity & Fraud Prevention
• Fintech Investment & Scale-Up Strategy

A Boutique Summit for Serious Industry Dialogue & Networking

True to HIPTHER’s established event DNA, the Summit will prioritize quality over crowd size — bringing together senior professionals in a premium environment built for meaningful networking, practical insight, and long-term business value.

Zoltán Tűndik, Co-Founder & Head of Business at HIPTHER, commented:

“Vilnius has proven to be the perfect home for this vision. By launching the HIPTHER Fintech Summit, we are establishing a dedicated annual anchor for the European fintech community to gather, collaborate, and navigate the complex but exciting intersection of technology and regulation in a city that truly lives and breathes innovation.”

Looking Ahead

The inaugural official edition of the HIPTHER Fintech Summit will take place in Vilnius in 2027, with dates and early registration details to be announced soon.

Keep an eye out for dates at the official website of HIPTHER Events and follow HIPTHER (LinkedIn, Facebook) and @hipther_agency (Instagram) for updates.

About HIPTHER

HIPTHER is a leading boutique media and events brand connecting leaders across iGaming, fintech, blockchain, AI, compliance, and emerging technology sectors through premium conferences, expert content, and high-value networking experiences across Europe.

The post HIPTHER Positions Vilnius at the Centre of Europe’s Fintech Growth with New Annual Fintech Summit appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

The agenda for HIPTHER Baltics: Vilnius 2026 has officially been revealed, marking a defining moment for the Baltic region’s iGaming, fintech, and regulatory landscape.

Taking place on 21 April 2026 at the Hilton Garden Inn Vilnius City Centre, the conference launches HIPTHER’s new Baltics-focused series, a bold evolution designed to bring deeper, jurisdiction-specific insight and high-level dialogue to one of Europe’s fastest-transforming digital markets.

At its core, the Vilnius edition is built around a powerful theme:
“iGaming Regulation & Fintech Integration” — a convergence shaping the future of compliance, payments, and digital innovation across the region.

A Defining Moment: Lithuania’s Regulatory Reset

Lithuania is entering a new phase — one where rapid fintech growth meets tightening regulatory expectations.

The agenda reflects this shift directly, capturing a market transitioning from accessibility to accountability, structure, and long-term sustainability. From post-MiCA realities and stricter AML frameworks to evolving iGaming controls, Vilnius becomes the place where these changes are not just discussed — but decoded.

The Agenda: One Day, Two Stages, Zero Filler

The newly released agenda delivers a high-density, decision-maker-focused experience, designed for professionals who need clarity.

Across two parallel tracks — Compliance & Operations Lab and TechXperience Stage — the program cuts straight to the pressure points shaping the industry:

On the Compliance & Operations side:

• Gambling Regulation in the Baltics: Enforcement, Gaps, and Political Pressure
• Post-MiCA Survival: Maintaining Your License Under the 2026 Strictures
• The Bank Pivot: SME Lending, EMI Stability & Financial Resilience
• AML 2.0 & MiCA in Practice: Building Compliance That Actually Works
• The iGaming Ad Ban: Survival Strategies in a “No Marketing” Era

On the TechXperience Stage:

• Next-gen Payments: A2A, Open Banking & Cross-border Infrastructure
• AI in Product & Workforce Transformation
• Blockchain Beyond the Hype: Infrastructure, Tokenization & Settlement
• Esports, Gaming & Digital Communities: Building Next-Gen Ecosystems
• AI in Product, Risk & Compliance: From Buzzwords to Deployment + Agentic AI & Data-Driven Organizations

Going beyond theoretical insight, this Agenda is a working blueprint for navigating what’s already unfolding.

Curated Networking & Meaningful Connections

The refreshing morning break and delicious complimentary lunch, will be followed by an evening social gathering at Jazz Cellar 11 –– offering rum, jazz, conversations, and the kind of networking that somehow becomes more productive after the formal agenda ends.

Spotlight on Speakers: The People Driving the Change

The Vilnius stage brings together a carefully selected lineup of regulators, compliance and fintech leaders, legal experts, and technology innovators — the very people operating at the frontlines of transformation.

These are just some of the speakers to take the stage:

• Rainer Osanik – Head of Fiscal Information and Intelligence Department in the Estonian Ministry of Finance
• Ineta Mačinskienė – CEO of Walletto
• Edgaras Abromavičius – President of the Lithuanian Esports Federation and Head of Esports and Gaming at the Lithuanian Football Federation
• Marija Nudga – Senior Lawyer at Tonybet and Legal Expert in iGaming & Fintech Compliance
• Kristina Vabinskaitė – Financial Markets Policy Department of the Ministry of Finance of Lithuania
• Saulius Racevicius – CEO of Pace App and Board Member of the Fintech Hub LT

From professionals securing MiCA licenses and building risk frameworks, to experts advising on international licensing, AML systems, and cross-border fintech operations, the speaker lineup reflects real, hands-on expertise.

These are the leaders and experts shaping how regulation and innovation coexist in real time.

Zoltan Tündik, Co-Founder and Head of Business at HIPTHER, stated about the Vilnius 2026 Agenda:

“Our dedicated Baltics series this year kickstarts in Vilnius and marks a strategic pivot in how we approach regional excellence. Having spent nearly two decades in the media and news sphere, we’ve learned that general insights are no longer enough; the market now demands jurisdiction-specific precision. Lithuania stands at a fascinating crossroads where fintech maturity meets a rigorous regulatory reset. Our 2026 agenda is designed to decode this convergence, helping leaders navigate the post-MiCA landscape and tighten iGaming frameworks. As we celebrate 10 years of HIPTHER impact, Vilnius represents our commitment to staying ahead of the curve, providing the high-level, boutique environment necessary for the industry’s most critical conversations.”

Boutique by Design — Powerful by Nature

HIPTHER Baltics: Vilnius 2026 is intentionally built as a boutique, high-value experience:

• A senior-level audience of decision-makers
• Focused, high-quality networking opportunities
• A premium central Vilnius setting designed for meaningful interaction

The format ensures that conversations don’t get lost in scale — they gain depth, relevance, and momentum.

Join the Conversation in Vilnius

The agenda is now live — and with it, the opportunity to be part of a room where regulation, technology, and strategy converge.

Explore the full agenda & secure your spot: https://hipther.com/events/vilnius/

Because in a year defined by regulatory change, the real advantage belongs to those in the room.

The post HIPTHER Baltics: Vilnius 2026 Agenda Sets the Stage for the Region’s Next Era of iGaming Regulation & Fintech Integration appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Expanse Studios, a subsidiary of Meridian Holdings, announced that it has received certification enabling the commercial deployment of its content across Estonia and Latvia.

Gaming Associates, a UKAS-accredited testing laboratory (accreditation number 9263), certified Candy’s Bonanza and Leprechaun’s Wish as compliant with the technical standards established by Baltic regulatory authorities. This certification allows the games to be deployed on licensed gaming platforms operating within these jurisdictions.

The Baltic certifications advance Expanse Studios’ systematic expansion across regulated European markets where formal certification processes create entry barriers for B2B content providers. Estonia and Latvia operate structured regulatory frameworks requiring independent technical verification before content deployment on licensed platforms.

Regulatory certification processes in European markets typically require 8-12 months and substantial compliance investment, creating competitive advantages for studios maintaining multi-jurisdictional certification capabilities.

“This certification gives us a solid foundation for further growth in this part of Europe. The approvals in the Baltics allow operators to go live more quickly, and they reflect the way we approach regulated markets. We focus on building compliant, reliable distribution capabilities that create real long-term value,” said Damjan Stamenkovic, CEO of Expanse Studios.

The post Expanse Studios Secures Certification for Estonia and Latvia Markets appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.